1 and 2 Chronicles

Frederick Mabie, Tremper Longman III, David E. Garland

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9780310531814
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Criticism & Interpretation

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1 AND 2 CHRONICLES

FREDERICK J. MABIE

Introduction

1. Date

2. Authorship

3. Historical and Social Background

4. Genre

5. Sources

6. Literary Purpose and Theology

7. Synoptic Issues

8. Bibliography

9. Outline

1. DATE

The setting of the book(s) of Chronicles1 is the postexilic community of Judea.2 Nevertheless, the specific time of the writing of Chronicles remains open to debate. Proposals range from the Persian time frame (400s BC) to the Greek/Hellenistic time frame (300s–200s BC) to the Maccabean/Hasmonean time frame (100s BC). The attention given to temple worship and priestly duties would seem to imply a date following the dedication of the Second Temple (that is, after 516/15 BC).3 In addition, the extent of the family line of Zerubbabel traced by the Chronicler (cf. 1Ch 3:19–24) would imply a date following the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah (i.e., after the mid to low 400s BC).4

Moreover, the language and content of Chronicles does not seem to reflect a Greek setting, implying that the text was composed prior to 333 BC.5 In addition, the use of Chronicles by other literary works from Maccabean/Hasmonean times (such as Sirach) implies that the text was in existence and seen as having some degree of authority prior to 180 BC.6 In sum, these observations indicate a likely range of 430–340 BC for the writing of Chronicles, with some preference for the earlier side of this range (ca. 430–400 BC).7

The content of Chronicles extends from Adam (1Ch 1:1) through the Persian king Cyrus (cf. 2Ch 36:22–23). This noted, the genealogical section at the beginning of Chronicles (1Ch 1–9) actually extends beyond the time of the closing section of Chronicles (2Ch 36) and into the postexilic setting (as reflected in the family line of Zerubbabel; 1Ch 3:19–24).8 In addition, this structure of Chronicles shows that while the historical time frame of Chronicles is clearly postexilic, the theological time frame of Chronicles is exilic.9 That is to say, while the text was composed (or at least completed) after the exile, the book of Chronicles nevertheless ends on the eve of the postexilic time frame.10 This contrast can be appreciated from the following overview of the postexilic time:

The Persian Empire and Postexilic Judea

Ruler	Reign (BC)	Significant Events of This Time
Cyrus	560–530	Founded Persian Empire; issued the Decree of Cyrus (539/538 BC), allowing conquered peoples (including Judeans) to return to their native countries (Time of Daniel and Sheshbazzar; Second Temple foundation laid ca. 536 BC)
Theological Setting of Chronicles: The Decree of Cyrus (539/538 BC)
Cambyses	530–522	Conquered Egypt in 525 BC
Darius I	522–486	Increased strength of Persian Empire; unsuccessful attempt at conquering Greece (Time of Haggai and Zechariah [perhaps also Malachi]; Second Temple completed and dedicated during the time of Zerubbabel, ca. 516/515 BC)
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus)	486–465	Destroyed Babylon in 482 BC; another unsuccessful Greek invasion; Xerxes I was murdered in 465 BC (Time of Esther)
Artaxerxes I	465–424	Faced six-year Egyptian rebellion; signed a peace treaty with Greece (Time of Ezra and Nehemiah)
Historical Setting (Date of Writing/Completion) of Chronicles: Mid-Late 400s BC
Darius II	423–404	Gained control of Asia Minor after Peloponnesian War
Artaxerxes II	404–358	Egypt regained independence; significant revolts in the west of the empire
Artaxerxes III	358–338	Reconquered Egypt
Darius III	336–333	Decline of the Persian Empire; falls to Alexander the Great in 333 BC

2. AUTHORSHIP

The most relevant factor that should be stressed on the topic of the authorship of Chronicles is that the book of Chronicles (along with much of the OT) lacks any notation of authorship. Thus it is anonymously authored and, from the vantage point of inspiration, such anonymity was clearly the intent of God.

The most common theme considered in the authorship of Chronicles is the issue of the relationship between the author(s) of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah.11 Among those who propose a common author for these works (namely, Ezra), the supporting evidence includes a degree of similarity in vocabulary and Hebrew syntax, a penchant for source citations and lists, a degree of overlapping ideological and theological concerns (such as the temple and priests), and Ezra-Nehemiah’s picking up where 2 Chronicles ends (cf. 2Ch 36:23 and Ezr 1:1–4). Such factors also led to the early Jewish perspective (cf. the Babylonian Talmud) that Ezra was the author of Chronicles.12

In spite of such points of similarity, there are also a number of thematic distinctions between Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah, such as the level of attention directed to the Davidic monarchy (high in Chronicles, low in Ezra-Nehemiah), stress on the Sabbath (low in Chronicles, high in Ezra-Nehemiah), and interest in the prophetic office (high in Chronicles, low in Ezra-Nehemiah).13 Such points of difference have caused a number of scholars to reject the view of a common author for Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah.14

All told, the issue of the authorship of Chronicles is likely to remain an unsettled area of biblical scholarship. Given that God saw fit to have Chronicles become a part of canonical biblical literature as an anonymous work, it seems fitting to refer to the (human) author as “the Chronicler” and focus interpretive energies on the theological message of the Chronicler.

3. HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND

Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC and large-scale deportations of the citizens of Judah to Babylonia, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor of Judah in Mizpah, to the north of Jerusalem (cf. 2Ki 25:22–24).15 The establishment of this new administration prompted those who had scattered in battle or had fled to neighboring regions to return to Judah (cf. Jer 40:5–12). Yet before long Gedaliah was assassinated, which resulted in more deportations, more flights abroad (especially to Egypt), and a sparsely inhabited Judah. During this time Edom took advantage of Judah’s dire situation by occupying the southern parts of what had been Judah, particularly in the region between Beersheba and Beth Zur.16

Meanwhile, the Nabateans settled in Transjordanian areas previously belonging to Edom as well as Cisjordan wilderness regions. All things considered, those who remained in the land (“the poorest people of the land”; cf. 2Ki 25:12; Jer 52:16) were concentrated in the central hill country to the north of Jerusalem over the course of the exilic period.17 The end of the bleak exilic period begins with the absorption of the Babylonian Empire into the Persian Empire in 539 BC.18

Following the Persian takeover of the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC, all of what had been Judah (as well as the northern kingdom, “Israel”) fell under one of the large administrative units of the Persian Empire (satrapies) known by the geographical description “Beyond the [Euphrates] River.” Within this region was the small province of Judea (frequently referred to by the Aramaic Yehud; cf. Ezr 5:8).19 Yehud was further divided into ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Contributors
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• 1 and 2 Chronicles
• Introduction
• I. THE CHRONICLER’S GENEALOGICAL SURVEY OF ALL ISRAEL (1CH 1:1–9:44)
• II. THE UNITED MONARCHY (1CH 10:1–2CH 9:31)
• III. THE REIGNS OF JUDEAN KINGS DURING THE DIVIDED MONARCHY (2CH 10:1–36:19)
• IV. THE EXILIC PERIOD (2CH 36:20–21)
• V. THE DECREE OF CYRUS (2CH 36:22–23)